January 1, 2019
Lessons Learned When Moments Turn Into Memories…..Our New Year’s Eve began with a last sunset Jeep ride exploring Big Bend Ranch State Park and River Road. As daylight faded the darkness revealed an endless supply of stars. Quietness enveloped us, our beating hearts echoed in our ears. The stillness of the night air left me in complete awe. I became acutely aware this moment was created especially for us. I silently poured out my gratitude and praise for the closing year and prayed over the days to come. A shooting star caught our eyes and our excitement broke the silence.
We had planned a midnight celebration with a couple we had met at the RV park the night before. We arrived well after dark and had only spent a few minutes setting up when we were invited over to join them. I met someone who loves people and likes to talk as much as I do…imagine that! 🤣 What a fun way to start the new year with two people we now happily call our friends. Ivan and Brona, we look forward to spending time with y’all in the future; Lavon is only an hour away from our home. 😊
May 2019 find you seeking all the Lord has planned for you, thanks for calling us friends and loving us – be blessed y’all!
Today is our 30th wedding anniversary so coming across this memory was heart warming. We will forever be connected to my parents in this special way. I even wore my mom’s dress.
December 23, 2017
Twenty-eight years ago my parents celebrated their 28th anniversary witnessing our wedding vows. I never imagined reaching a milestone such as theirs or the adventures we would experience achieving it.
We vowed to have and to hold from that day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, and we promised “anywhere with you” until death do us part.
Cheers to love, friendship, gratitude, blessings, and adventures to come!
November 28, 2019
Today I was exactly where I needed to be and I’m filled with gratitude. Today I was surrounded by the spirit of my parents’ presence and I felt peace. Today I was embraced by people that loved my parents as much as I do and perhaps knew them more intimately. Today that feeling of being orphaned was lessened a bit, my soul soothed, and my heart is full. We spent the day with my Tia Beva (my mom’s sister), Tio Lalo (my dad’s childhood friend/brother-in-law), my cousins and their families and my brother.
Blessed Thanksgiving Y’all!
December 6, 2013
I wrote this in the midst of walking with and caring for my dad in his alzheimer journey.
What do you do when the power is out, propane tanks are empty, and you need to feed those in your care? You separate the fire in the fireplace into three parts… one for boiling water for coffee, another with embers for scrambling eggs, and the third for warmth. Tummies full and warm hearts, be blessed y’all.
September 5, 2017
Home….where our childhood, teen, and young adult lives were formed and memories made. Home….where our hearts have remained even though we raised our children elsewhere. Home….where my parents and Vidal’s dad were laid to rest. Home…..where I find my heart remembering through tears, Happy Heavenly 83rd Birthday mom and early 81st Birthday dad.
September 7, 2017
My father-in-law was an avid fisherman. On the water, whether it be fresh or salt, he encountered great peace and was at his happiest. Ask any of us for a favorite memory of Grandpa and I assure you it will involve his matter-of-fact wisdom, comical storytelling, and passionate angling advice, all of which he gave freely whether you asked or not.
Yesterday as we began storm clean up we decided to begin with a tree that had sustained the most damage. As I took a closer look at the downed limb I found it oddly beautiful. The powerful winds had ripped it from its base but its branches had not harmed anything on its way down. From my vantage point I noticed a familiar sight, Grandpa’s cast net and it made me smile.
Once the limb was cut away from the trunk I was curious to see how this missing branch would transform the overall look of the tree. As I studied the scar the markings appeared to me like angel wings. And there again, was Grandpa’s fishing net gently draped to one side. Beauty in the ashes.
October 14, 2013
My heart wrestled with my emotions all weekend. Friday was the 6th anniversary of my mom’s death and I was sharing with a friend how I felt about dementia and it’s ugly hold on my dad’s mind. It has even taken from him the ability to recall one of the saddest day of our lives. We talked about how we are both losing a parent in different ways but our pain is the same. Two days later, her heart and that of her family are experiencing a great loss. Becky Bulgerin, My heart hurts for you. I will remember what we said, and what Andy Bulgerin reminded us in a recent post. Find, remember, and hold onto the good in the midst of the ugly. Much love and God’s peace….
February 27, 2013
Today is a clean the showers, scrub the toilets, sweep, mop, and vacuum kind of day. As I sat down to read my devotional one phrase kept popping up, “glorify God in all you do”. My immediate thought was “Huh?, we are talking toilets and mops here, Lord”. I laughed at my own response then I reflected on the joy I feel when Vidal walks in after a long day at work, with an even longer evening ahead in the garage and his first words are, “The house smells so good”. So, Christian Jamz it is on Pandora and I’m off to give glory to God while I work. =) Be blessed ya’ll
August 14, 2017
Zazu came to us seven years ago at just two months of age after much persuasion and promises of his care from Andrea to her daddy. Little did we know what a huge role he would play in her life or the training she would instill in this little black and white ball of fur.
Spend a little time around Zazu and you will quickly discover he’s not ordinary. He is obedient to a fault, exudes dignity (ask Moxie, Sephira and Chinook), unabashedly spoiled, and if he could, would convey his thoughts in the English language (he’s still trying to teach us). Happy Homecoming/birthday King Zazu!
See what had happened was…..Class of 1981 reunion; however, these two forged a friendship years before. It was the fall of 1976 on a middle school football practice field, a David and Goliath match up, or at least in one little guy’s eyes. One huge stop attempt and the little guy lost. A broken neck, a life long story, and a testament to God’s miracles you don’t appreciate when your 12-years-old. Demetrio Ganceres, I think all’s forgiven. 🙂
Class of 1981
July 25, 2017
I tend to deep clean, declutter, and reorganize things when I am stressed or in this case, when I know we will be away from home in the near future. The latter, I tell myself, is just in case someone breaks into our home it will be super tidy and perhaps good fingerprints will be left behind and I’ll easily be able to determine what’s missing. I blame the law enforcement influence in this family for that one. 👮♂️
Anyway, it never fails, I run into keepsakes that make me pause and reflect. My mom was a teacher’s aide when I was growing up. Therefore, her influence was always nearby while I was in school. Even long after I left Weber Elementary, there wasn’t much I could do that didn’t get back to my mom through the educator grapevine. As annoying as that could be as a preteen and beyond; I’m grateful now that my parents had the wisdom, courage, and faith in their fellow friends and colleagues to allow them to impart wisdom and admonishment, when necessary. My mom’s friends became my friends and I’m blessed for it. Not only do I value your friendship, you remind me of precious memories my mom shared working with and knowing you. Be blessed y’all!
On July 13, 2015, the Lord whispered your name and you joined mom; although, Alzheimer’s had taken you from us three years earlier. That experience allowed us to walk with and care for you in a way we would not have known. We were tasked with a difficult assignment that taught us empathy beyond our imagination, patience in great amounts, appreciation for even the smallest of memory moments, compassion without limits, and the honor to be with you in the darkest of moments just as you did for us in our life shared with you. We would not have had it any other way. Love you, miss you, carry you in our hearts forever….
Oh my goodness, this place still stirs my soul. We bought the property but mom and dad helped us build the memories. Dad would BBQ, mom would make the potato salad, and it was on. Bottle rocket wars with Rector and Travis. BBQ’s with the Cassidy, Oelke, Eubank and Baum families. Watching Jake grow up as adventures were had on go carts, four-wheelers, and dirt bikes. Elias and Andie celebrated birthdays, learned to drive and spent many evenings around a campfire. Even our beloved black Lab, Encino is buried there. Burn those memories in your hearts and be blessed y’all!
Lessons Learned When... 